This vegan key lime pie ice cream is a play on my favorite Mexican dessert, carlota de limón. (In Mexico it is also known as pay de limón ice cream.) A tangy and sweet key lime-coconut milk base is churned until it is light and creamy and then mixed with crumbled vegan Maria cookies It has the perfect ratio of cookies to ice cream with that classic lime flavor that is a Mexican favorite.

Ice Cream in Mexico

Mexico loves ice cream. You can find hand-churned ice cream made in huge stainless barrels and being sold on the street. Mexican ice cream is famous for being made with ripe and juicy seasonal fruit. You can find classic flavors like mango, strawberry, and chocolate, and some unconventional flavors like corn rose petal, and tres leches.

Mexican Ice Cream is similar to gelato since the fat content is much lower than American ice cream, so it is creamy and delectable yet light and refreshing. You can also find ice cream at paleterias or neverías. The most famous one is La Michoacana. To find vegan ice cream simply ask for nieve de agua, which means it’s made with a water base.

Making vegan ice cream

Ice cream is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world and I’m so glad that there are many vegan options available at grocery stores. My favorite hands-down is Nada Moo, but if you want to make your own ice cream I recommend the FoMu Ice Cream cookbook. If you’re looking for an ice cream machine I use the Cuisinart 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor???

The Recipe: Vegan Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Key Lime vs Persian Lime

For this ice cream, I recommend you use key limes which are small and have a stronger and tangier flavor than Persian limes.

Vegan Maria Cookies

If you live in Mexico the Maria cookies from the Soriana brand are accidentally vegan. If you live in the US I found that Mcvities Rich Tea Cookies are also vegan and can be found on Amazon. If you can’t find either of them you can use vegan graham crackers to make this ice cream.

Vegan Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

This vegan key lime pie ice cream is a play on my favorite Mexican dessert, carlota de limón. (In Mexico it is also known as pay de limón ice cream.) A tangy and sweet key lime-coconut milk base is churned until it is light and creamy and then mixed with crumbled Maria cookies.

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This sweet-yet-tart vegan raspberry ice cream is deliciously creamy, along with a crunchy almond-oat topping. It is made with full-fat coconut milk, fresh raspberries, agave, organic cane sugar, and sea salt. It’s amazing how just a handful of natural ingredients make an irresistible, all plant-based treat!

Incredible Vegan Ice Cream

This recipe is from the book Incredible Vegan Ice Cream by Deena Jalal. Deena is the founder and owner of the beloved Houston ice cream shop FoMu Ice Cream, and she has infused this book with the same creamy indulgent flavors you can find in her store.

Ice cream is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world, so I was thrilled to receive this book! There are 60 vegan ice cream recipes, and we love every single one we’ve tried. I especially enjoyed that the ice cream isn’t overly sweet. Some of my favorite flavors so far are blueberry shortbread, bourbon maple walnut, chocolate stout, roasted banana cinnamon, and apple cider donut. All of the ice creams are made with coconut milk, so if you’re allergic to coconut this book isn’t for you.

Mexico has a wonderful history of handmade ice cream made with natural ingredients, and I thought this vegan raspberry ice cream would fit perfectly with my collection of Mexican desserts. In Mexico, ice cream making dates back to pre-hispanic times when the Teotihuacanos would collect ice from the top of the volcanoes and serve it with honey and fruit. Today, ice-cream making is a craft passed down from generation to generation. I’m so excited to apply the techniques and recipes from this book to recreate my favorite Mexican flavors.

Making Vegan Ice Cream is Easy!

Making vegan ice cream is actually so much easier than making traditional ice cream because you don’t have to make a custard base, and when you follow the Mexican tradition of using the freshest and ripest fruit, your vegan ice cream will be nothing but luscious, rich, and sweet. All you have to do is blend the ingredients to make the base, then churn in an ice cream maker.

The Recipe: Vegan Raspberry Ice Cream with Almond Crumble

Full-fat coconut milk is the best plant-milk to use for this recipe.

Use fresh raspberries for the best flavor.

You can use your favorite store-bought granola to save time.

After freezing, set the ice cream out for 5 – 10 minutes to soften before serving.

It will keep well in the freezer for a couple of weeks in an airtight container.

Oatmeal Crumble

Preparation

Ice Cream Base

Start by making the raspberry purée. In a high-speed blender or food processor, purée the fresh or frozen red raspberries until they’re smooth. Set aside ½ cup (120 mof the purée. Use a high-speed or immersion blender to thoroughly mix the remaining purée, coconut milk, sugar, agave, and salt. Chill the mixture for at least 1 hour, or overnight.

Add the chilled mixture to your ice cream maker and churn it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Most machines take 10 to 15 minutes depending on the temperature of the mix, and it should look like soft serve when it’s finished. Transfer the churned ice cream to a large freezer-safe container. Wide and shallow containers work well for mixing, freezing, and scooping later on. Gently fold the crumbled oats into the base until they’re evenly distributed. You want to be sure to maintain the air that was churned into the base for the best texture. Smooth the top, cover the container, and freeze the ice cream for at least 5 to 6 hours, or until it is set. Don’t skimp on time—this ensures the best quality and shelf life of the ice cream.

For an ideal texture, set the ice cream out for 5 to 10 minutes before serving it. It will keep well in the freezer for a couple of weeks in an airtight container.

Oatmeal Crumble

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a parchment-lined baking sheet tray and set it aside. Combine the whole oats, oat flour, salt, flax, and brown sugar in a large bowl. Mix the ingredients with a wooden spoon or spatula until everything is evenly distributed. Add the coconut oil, agave, and vanilla to the bowl and mix until all the ingredients are well combined.

Pour the crumble onto the baking sheet tray. Bake it for approximately 15 minutes, or until it is golden brown. Stir the crumble while it's baking at 5 and 10 minutes to help break it into small chunks.

Allow the crumble to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container. It will keep for 1 week at room temperature but can be frozen for up to 1 month.

Chef's Notes

Full-fat coconut milk is the best plant-milk to use for this recipe.

Use fresh raspberries for the best flavor.

You can use your favorite store-bought granola to save time.

After freezing, set the ice cream out for 5 - 10 minutes to soften before serving.

It will keep well in the freezer for a couple of weeks in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Raspberry Ice Cream with Oatmeal Crumble

Amount Per Serving

Calories 277Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Fat 13g20%

Saturated Fat 10g63%

Sodium 12mg1%

Potassium 252mg7%

Carbohydrates 38g13%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 21g23%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 16IU0%

Vitamin C 13mg16%

Calcium 39mg4%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to write this review. That being said, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cinco de Mayo may not be celebrated in Mexico as it is here in the US, but as a Mexican, let me tell you, I will take any excuse to celebrate what a beautiful country Mexico is!! Since you can’t celebrate Mexico without a party, I have done all the searching for you and created the perfect Cinco de Mayo party menu. Here are 22 of my favorite vegan Cinco de Mayo party food ideas.

History of Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is the commemoration of the battle of Puebla, that took place in 1862 in the Franco-Mexican war. The Mexican triumphed over the French in an unexpected battle of 6,000 French troops, against only 2,000 Mexicans! The battle was only one of many in the Franco-Mexican war, but the victory emboldened the resistance movement.

Cinco de Mayo in the U.S.

In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a minor holiday, the big celebrations confined to the city of Puebla. However, in the U.S. this special date has become a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage. It was in the 1960s that Chicano activists took this holiday as their own, perhaps because they identified with the values of the indigenous Mexicans that had triumphed over the French. Later Cinco de Mayo was commercialized and morphed into what it is today.

22 Vegan Cinco de Mayo Party Food Ideas

Phew!! I think I totally nerded out on you there. Anyway, here are the recipes. Enjoy!!

3. Watermelon Salsa

This watermelon salsa is refreshing, flavorful and will be the hit of the summer! Cubed watermelon, cherry tomatoes, onion, mint, cilantro, serrano peppers, and lime juice make an amazing combination. Find the recipe here.

7. Spicy Avocado Sauce for Tacos

This creamy and spicy avocado sauce is a great for dipping flautas or for topping your everyday tacos. It is traditionally served with flautas, but it would also make a great addition to some vegan enchiladas. Find the recipe here.

20. Strawberry Margarita Pie

A creamy strawberry-lime filling laced with tequila and swirled with a strawberry puree is placed on a simple no-bake crust with quinoa flakes, coconut, almond meal, and dates. It’s a deliciously cold and sweet treat. Find the recipe here.

This Vegan Tres Leches cake is nothing short of a dream. A dream come true!! A sweet vanilla cake is soaked in almond, macadamia, and oat milk, covered in silky coconut whipped cream, then topped with strawberries.

I had avoided veganizing this recipe for so long, thinking that I couldn’t possibly get it right or that I had to make vegan condensed milk, and who has time to make vegan condensed milk?? I don’t know why, but inspiration finally hit and this vegan version of homemade tres leches cake was born.

What is Tres Leches Cake?

Tres leches (three milks) cake is traditionally a vanilla sponge cake soaked in condensed milk, evaporated milk, and cream (media crema). It is topped with whipped cream and berries or assorted fruit, and sometimes cinnamon. On occasion, rum or rompope (a sort of Mexican eggnog) is added to the milk mixture. To make this vegan I decided to use almond, macadamia nut, and oat milk. The combination proved to be ridiculously good!

Tres Leches Cake History

This is a tricky one. Some say that tres leches cake originated in Nicaragua, but Mexico certainly claims it as its own, and Cuba and Puerto Rico have their own versions of well. Tres leches cake became popular in Latin America in the 19th century, possibly due to Nestle publishing a recipe in the back of its cans of condensed milk. They, however, did not invent it, even before then you can find various versions of milk-soaked cakes way before the 19th century. Without a doubt, there is some influence of European colonization, thus there are some who believe tres leches is a new world version of European milk soaked cakes topped with cream, like tiramisu.

The Challenges of Making an Authentic Tres Leches Cake Vegan

It wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined, because I decided to completely leave out the condensed milk. Instead, I combined three plant-based milks with sugar and reduce the liquid by 1/3. The cake itself was the biggest challenge. The cake needed to be dry or maybe not dry, but at least not overly moist. The omnivore version is made without oil and mostly eggs which presented a huge problem in the vegan version. After 4 tries I came up with a cake that is dry enough to absorb the milk, but strong enough to not become mush instantly.

I tried 2 types of coconut whipped cream. I decided not to make my own but go with a store-bought option. First I tried So Delicious Coco Whip which turned out too sweet and heavy for my taste for this cake. I settled with Reddi-whip’s Coconut Whipped Topping which is light and airy, and not too sweet.

The Recipe: Vegan Tres Leches Cake

It’s very important to make the cake the day before so you can let it sit out and dry out a little bit.

This cake is not meant to be eaten without soaking in milk!! You’ve been warned.

I used almond, macadamia nut, and oat milk, but you can use any combination you prefer. If you like coconut, I suggest coconut milk.

Top with strawberries or assorted berries. The acid in the berries cut the sweetness of the cake.

This cake will not keep for more than a day, it will get too mushy, so try to eat it all in one day.

Vegan Tres Leches Cake

This Vegan Tres Leches cake is nothing short of a dream. A dream come true!! A sweet vanilla cake is soaked in almond, macadamia, and oat milk, covered in silky coconut whipped cream, then topped with strawberries.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword tres leches cake, vegan mexican recipes

Resting Time10hours

Total Time2hours

Servings10Servings

299kcal

AuthorDora S.

Ingredients

Cake:

1 ½cupsAlmond milk,unsweetened

1 ½tsp.White vinegar

2tsp.Vanilla extract

2 ¼cupsAll-purpose flour

¾tsp.Baking soda

1 ½cupsSugar,granulated

½tsp.Salt

Milk Syrup:

1cupAlmond milk,unsweetened

1cupMacadamia nut milk,unsweetened

1cupOat milk,unsweetened

½cupSugar, granulated

Whipped Topping:

2cansReddi-whip Coconut Whipped Topping

1pintStrawberries,hulled and sliced

Preparation

To make the cake

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 8 x 13” baking dish with parchment paper and lightly grease with vegetable oil.

In a large bowl combine the flour, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Mix well.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and mix with a whisk until you have a smooth batter.

Pour the batter into the baking dish and bake in the middle rack of the oven, for 30-35 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Remove from oven. Let cake cool, and remove from baking dish. Remove parchment paper and let cake cool completely on a rack. Leave it out at room temperature without covering it, overnight.

To make the milk syrup

While your cake is baking. Combine the three milks and sugar in a medium sauce pot. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 20 min. Remove from heat and let cool in the refrigerator until ready to use. You should have about 2 cups of milk syrup.

Assembly

The following day, using a serrated knife, gently cut the dome off the top of your cake. Poke the surface of the cake several times with a fork or a steak knife.

Place your cake inside of the baking dish and pour milk syrup over it as evenly as possible. Place in your fridge and let cake soak for 30 min.

When you’re ready to serve, top the cake with the coconut whipped topping and spread with a spatula. (Don’t add the whipped topping to the cake unless you’re ready to serve it.)

Arrange the sliced strawberries on top of the whipped topping and serve.

Chef's Notes

It's very important to make the cake the day before so you can let it sit out and dry out a little bit.

• This cake is not meant to be eaten without soaking in milk!! You've been warned.

• I used almond, macadamia nut, and oat milk, but you can use any combination you prefer. If you like coconut, I suggest coconut milk.

• Top with strawberries or assorted berries. The acid in the berries cut the sweetness of the cake.

• This cake will not keep for more than a day, it will get too mushy, so try to eat it all in one day.

• If you want to make your own whipped topping I recommend this recipe.

This Mexican Christmas apple salad is the perfect way to end your Christmas feast. After a meal of Christmas roast,tamales and pozole, this refreshing salad will hit the spot. Crisp apples, pineapple, grapes, and chopped pecans are mixed with a sweet almond crema.

This has to be one of my favorite childhood food memories, except that we added marshmallows to ours and it was almost sickly sweet. This healthier version is refreshing and sweetened with maple syrup. We would have this salad on Christmas of course, but my grandmother would make a different version for New Year’s with carrots and raisins which was also delicious. Depending on where in Mexico you are some people add raisins, carrots, celery, and even maraschino cherries.

Traditionally this recipe uses crema or even mayonnaise, but I have made a crema with soaked almonds, water, almond milk, and maple syrup. You can also make the crema with cashews or use your favorite vegan yogurt. I prefer using almonds because they’re more affordable, but they are a bit more work because you have to peel them.

Year after year, the longer I’m vegan the less I miss meat and the more I can appreciate veganizing traditional Mexican recipes and fulfilling all of my childhood food memories in a cruelty-free and healthy way. If you haven’t been vegan for long I just want to let you know that your palate does change, that you do adapt, and that it becomes easier and easier.

The Recipe: Mexican Christmas Apple Salad

As optional ingredients, you can add carrots, raisins or celery.

I recommend that you make and eat on the same day.

You can use your favorite vegan yogurt to make this recipe even quicker

Ingredients

3cupsDiced gala apples(you can peel or not peel according to preference)

3/4cupCrushed pineapple,canned or fresh (drained)

1cupGreen grapes,cut in half

½cupChopped pecans

Sweet Almond Crema:

½cupAlmonds,raw

¼ -cupWater

¼cupAlmond milk, unsweetened

1tsp.Lemon juice, fresh

1tsp.Maple syrup

Preparation

Bring 1 pint of water to a boil in a small sauce pot and pour over the almonds. Let soak overnight.

The following day peel the almonds by pressing an almond between your thumb and forefinger and pressing lightly. The skin should just pop off.

In a blender, place the almonds, almond milk, lemon juice, and maple syrup and blend at high speed until completely smooth and cream like (to get a super smooth sauce you will need a high powered blender).

Place sauce in a small container and refrigerate for 30 min.

In a large bowl combine the apples, pineapple, grapes, and chopped pecans. Pour sauce over it and mix well.

Serve.

Chef's Notes

You can use cashews instead of almonds if you prefer. Some people add raisins, maraschino cherries, carrots, and even celery. If you want to go a little crazy you could add vegan mini marshmallows. I recommend that once you've tossed the fruit salad you serve it the same day.

These cold winter nights call for a nice hot mug of champurrado. Champurrado is a pre-Colombian drink made with fresh masa, water, piloncillo, and Mexican chocolate. It is especially good with perfectly tender tamales.

Champurrado History

Champurrrado ingredients are quite simple but the combination is irresistible. Before the Spanish arrived in Mexico with their cows and their milk, champurrado was made with water.

It is said that the great Aztec emperor Moctezuma Xocoyotzin enjoyed this beverage which he drank in ceremonial vessels made of gold, sweetened with agave honey, and spiced with a bit of chile.

Fray Bernardino de Sahagún documented the consumption of atoll or atolli which was drunk by the indigenous warm or cold, for breakfast or sometimes as a meal in itself. It was also used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes.

Atole vs Champurrado

So what is the difference between atole and champurrado?? Atole is also a drink from pre-Columbian times that can be sweet or savory depending on the region in Mexico where you are. Traditionally, it is made by dissolving ground dried corn in milk or water and adding fruits or different flavorings to it. Champurrado is simply atole with chocolate added to it, in other words, chocolate atole.

How to Make Champurrado

Making champurrado is quite easy, the piloncillo and cinnamon are simmered in water until completely dissolved, then a Mexican chocolate tablet is added. Once the chocolate has melted into the piloncillo mixture the fresh masa is added. The masa thickens the chocolate creating a thick, sweet, and chocolatey drink. Then everything is frothed with a molinillo and served hot.

The Recipe: How to Make Champurrado

This authentic Mexican champurrado is made with water instead of milk, just like in pre-Columbian times.

If you want to use milk I recommend you use almond-coconut milk.

The recipe calls for fresh masa, but if you can’t find it you can use masa harina.

Champurrado

These cold winter nights call for a nice hot mug of champurrado. Champurrado is a pre-Colombian drink made with fresh masa, water, piloncillo, and Mexican chocolate. It is especially good with perfectly tender tamales.

Course Drinks

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword champurrado, chocolate, vegan mexican

Total Time20minutes

Servings4cups

96kcal

AuthorDora S.

Ingredients

4cupsWater

1Ceylon cinnamon stick

1/3 - 1/2 cupChopped piloncillo(2-4 oz.)

1Mexican Chocolate disk(I used Ibarra, chopped into 4 pieces)

½cupFresh masa for tortillas(nixtamal)

Preparation

Place 3 cups of water, chopped piloncillo, and cinnamon stick in a medium sauce pot and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes or until the piloncillo has completely dissolved.

Add the Mexican chocolate and continue to simmer and stir until chocolate has completely dissolved, about 3 minutes.

In the meantime place the fresh masa in a large bowl and pour 1 cup of water over the masa. Use your hand to dissolve the masa into the water.

Strain the masa liquid, and pour it into the simmering hot chocolate. Stir and froth with a molinillo or whisk.

Simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until the champurrado has thickened. Serve hot!!

Chef's Notes

If you like your champurrado on the thick side use ¾ cup of fresh masa, but remember, the champurrado will continue to thicken as it cools. I used Ibarra chocolate but you can use your favorite Mexican hot chocolate. If you can’t find fresh masa you can use 3/4 cup of masa harina.

You might know them by a different name like vegan snowball cookies, polvorones, or Russian tea cakes, but there is no doubt that vegan Mexican wedding cookies are THE cookies to make this season. These incredibly “buttery” cookies are studded with chopped pecans, spiced with cinnamon and ground anise, and covered in a delicate layer of powdered sugar.

In Mexico, these cookies can be found all year long, but they are especially popular during Christmas. They are not called vegan Mexican wedding cookies, they are known as hojarascas or polvorones depending on where in Mexico you are.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen them actually served at weddings, but you never know, Mexico is a big country were traditions, cuisine, and even accents can differ from state to state. I did grow up eating these, but my favorite is definitely the version with orange zest and cinnamon-sugar.

We love Christmas! It’s such a joyous time when you live it through the eyes of the children. We are a bilingual and multi-cultural household so we do try to incorporate different traditions from our cultures. The kids get presents (toys) from Santa and the Reyes Magos (Three Kings) bring them books and treats. We eat tamales and pozole, but there’s also turkey (for the non-vegans) and gingerbread house decorating. What are some of your favorite traditions??

The Recipe: Vegan Mexican Wedding Cookies

This cookie is basically a shortbread cookie, so the first thing you’ll need to do is cream the vegan butter and sugar. After this you add the flour and seasonings and mix well. It is very easy to make and take only 15 min. to bake in the oven!!

I used earth balance to make this recipe, but you can use your favorite vegan butter.

You can shape these any way you like in little balls or you can use this same dough to roll out and cut into shapes. I’ve even used it to make thumbprint cookies.

This recipe makes quite a bit of cookies so if you don’t need that many cookies I suggest you still make the whole recipe then freeze half the dough and save it for later. Instant cookies!!

Filling vegan pan de muerto is a common practice in México. This vegan day of the dead bread is filled with a sweet chocolate “cream”, and dusted with a sprinkling of sugar.. Serve with your favorite Mexican hot chocolate, and honor your loved ones on this Dia de los Muertos.

The filling is a bit of a well kept secret called chocolate hummus. I know it sounds totally unappetizing, but I promise it’s so good. I never thought I would hear my kids begging me to make chocolate hummus. Chocolate hummus is basically cooked chickpeas, cocoa powder, and a sweetener like maple syrup.

The store-bought kind is super smooth, almost like a mix between chocolate icing and pudding. When you make it at home it’s not as smooth, but still delicious. I tried making a chocolate-sweet potato frosting, but it was too thick, and a chocolate coconut whipped cream, but that was a total flop. Chocolate hummus was perfect with this vegan pan de muerto.

Let come to room temperature, roll into balls.

So what’s the big deal about pan de muerto?? Pan de muerto is a special bread eaten on the Day of the Dead in Mexico and placed on the ofrendas (altars) that honor the departed. It has a round shape with 4 elongated knobs in the shape of a cross, and a small ball at the top.

It’s round shape represents the cycle of life and death, the knobs represent the bones of the departed, and the ball represents the skull. It is traditionally infused with orange blossom water to remember our deceased loved ones. The shape of the cross is said to represent the 4 cardinal points, each one dedicated to a different god Tezcatlipoca, Tlaloc, Quetzalcóatl y Xipetotec.

There are many different kinds of pan de muerto some shaped like animals, plants or trees, people, and fantastic creatures. You can find them filled with nata (clotted cream), whipped cream, cajeta, and dried fruits. I prefer mine unfilled and dipped in hot chocolate.

I love being able to share all these traditions with my children, and it’s a beautiful way of honoring my ancestors, and the loved ones that have gone before me. My 4 year old was saying that she didn’t understand why Jesus had to die. I explained a little bit, and then told her that we would all die one day. She got super quiet and said, ” But if we all die, who will put my picture on the altar??” So cute!! Feliz Día de los Muertos.

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It’s the irresistible aroma of chocolate and cinnamon that I first think of when I’m offered hot chocolate. Mexican hot chocolate is not your ordinary cacao powder and milk, oh no, and somebody needs to say this, but adding cinnamon to your hot chocolate does not make it Mexican. It is one of my culinary pet peeves. So what are the best vegan Mexican chocolate brands and what makes them so different?

Not only that it comes from Mexico, but the process used to make it is unique in itself. Mexican chocolate for beverages is sold in tablets not powder, it is made by toasting, and grinding cacao beans with sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. It is then packed into a mold and formed into a tablet. To make into a beverage simply dissolve a couple of pieces of the tablet in hot milk. If the chocolate is of high quality you can dissolve it in water, milk is not necessary. The video below, from Saveur.com shows you exactly how chocolate tablets are made in Mexico.

The Best Vegan Brand of Mexican Chocolate

Hernan Mexican hot chocolate is made with stone-ground ORGANIC cocoa beans from a bio-diversified plantation in Chiapas. It is made in Mexico and imported into the US. I found Hernán to have the most authentic flavor and quality. It has a strong chocolate flavor, but it is not overpowering. It is the tight amount of sweet, and the foam is thick and a bit airy. It contains only four ingredients: cacao beans, sugar, cinnamon, and soy lecithin. The downfall is that it is available mostly online and in select stores. The price is reasonable for the quality of the chocolate at $10 for a box of 6 tablillas (6 cups of hot chocolate).

Second Best: Taza Chocolate

Taza is produced here in the US using the same process described in the video above. It is intensely chocolaty, aromatic, not too sweet, but with a hint of bitterness. The foam is thick, not at all airy. It contains only three ingredients: cacao beans, sugar, and cinnamon. It is also certified USDA organic, non-GMO, certified gluten-free, and vegan. The only downside is the price, $5.oo. It really isn’t too expensive, but one package will only make you two cups of hot chocolate.

Best Budget-Friendly Chocolate: Ibarra

Ibarra is the one we buy more often, and it is a Mexican product. It has a medium chocolate flavor intensity and it is pretty sweet. There is no bitterness to it at all. The foam is airy and firm. It contains cocoa liquor, sugar, soy lecithin, and cinnamon flavoring. The price, $3.50, and it makes 24 cups of hot chocolate.

Last but Not Least: Abuelita

I contacted Nestle and they confirmed that it is NOT vegan.

NOTE: Even though Nestle has said that the product is not vegan certified, there are no animal products on the ingredient list. After further inquiry this is what Nestle responded: “The evaluation for vegan claims has not been performed on this item. We therefore would advise that the product is not suitable for vegans.”

I leave it up to yo whether you want to try it or not. That being said, Abuelita has a special place in my heart, it evokes a lot memories for me and it is extremely popular in Mexico. It has a medium chocolate flavor, is very sweet, and has no bitterness. The cinnamon flavor is strong and fragrant. The foam is airy and very firm. The downside is that it contains additives like vegetable oils, artificial flavor, and PGPR. The price, $3.25, and it makes 24 cups of chocolate.

Regardless of which one you think is the best vegan brand of Mexican chocolate, I urge to give Mexican hot chocolate a try. You won’t be disappointed. What is your favorite brand?

Disclaimer: The post is in partnership with Hernán & may include affiliate links.

This Mexican hot chocolate ice cream is sweet and creamy with a hint of cinnamon. It might be the combination of my two favorite things Mexican hot chocolate and ice cream. For this recipe I’ve used my new favorite chocolate, Hernán. I found out about Hernan at a local festival here in San Antonio and I instantly fell in love with their all-natural, vegan products.

Hernan Mexican hot chocolate is made with stone-ground ORGANIC cocoa beans from a bio-diversified plantation in Chiapas! The chocolate is available in tablillas or shaped into calaveras (chocolate skulls). It has become my favorite chocolates, because in the US it is becoming very hard to find Mexican hot chocolate without artificial flavors or oils.

Plus it’s a local business run by a fellow Mexican and entrepreneur, Isela Hernández who is crafting these products in partnership with artisan groups and producers in Mexico!

I have been experimenting with the chocolate and have made Mexican hot chocolate paletas, so it only seemed natural to try and use it to make ice cream.

I love ice cream and with so many dairy free alternatives on the market it’s not as difficult to find a good vegan ice cream (my favorite brand is Nadamoo). I do wish there were more Mexican or Latino inspired flavors like this Mexican hot chocolate ice cream, or other flavors like jamaica, horchata, arroz con leche, and cajeta.

I used to have an ice cream maker, which I loved, but I had to let go of in the move from Hawaii to Texas. I figured I could just buy a new one instead of paying to ship the one I had, but then I never did. So I have made this recipe no-churn, but if you have an ice cream machine you can use it as well.

The Recipe: Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate Ice Cream

I tried several different types of milk for this and my favorite was almond-coconut or soy.

I have added avocado for creaminess, but don’t worry the taste blends in perfectly with the chocolate.

You can use the sweetener of your choice.

If you have an ice cream machine, cool down the chocolate mixture then add to your machine. You can skip the steps 4,5 and 6